While English inventors like Sir John Harrington, Alexander Cummings, and yes, even Thomas Crapper, were creating and improving on the water closet; in America, inventors were coming up with their own ideas. Since the colonists only brought with them the humble chamber pot, they had to create their own inventions to solve the sanitary problems.

Western Civilization arguable began in the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers that we now call Babylonia from 6000-3000 BC. These people created systems of writing and communications, had a codified set of laws, literature, and a calendar system. They also created a fairly sophisticated system of water management. The people of Babylonia had irritation drams, drains, basins and the rich had personal bathrooms.

While most people credit the invention of the modern flush toilet to Thomas Crapper, who was an English sanitary engineer. There are some historians who disagree. Thomas Crapper who lived from 1837-1920 invented the valve and siphon mechanism that made our modern toilet possible. But some historians say the credit really should go to an anonymous ancient Minoan who lived some 4,000 years ago in ancient Crete. Some give the ultimate credit to Alexander Cumming who in 1775 patented a specialized flushing device.

If you ask most any person who invented the modern toilet, you will hear about Thomas Crapper. However, in China archaeologists has discovered a 2000 year old toilet that had running water, and featured a stone seat an a comfy armrest and was flushed with piped water.